Mail-pouch receiver.



No. &89,105,

H. GLAY.

MAIL POUGH REGEIVER( AIPLIATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1901.

PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

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PATENTED MAY 26, 1908.

No. &89,105.

H. GLAY. MAIL POUCH RBGEIVER. APPLICATION PI- LED SEPT ZG, 1907.

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H. CLAY.

MAIL POUCH RECEIVER. APPLICATION PILED SEPT.. 23, 1907 w Hill!! a@ mu l www" PATENTED MAY 26, 1908. V

35 w HW !HW 64 MEF i No. 889,105. -PATENTED'MAY 26, 1908. GLAY.

MAIL' POUGH RECEIVER.

APPLICATIQN PILED SEPT. 23, 1907.

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?HE'NDRRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, DA c,

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY CLAY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC DEVICES COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. j

MAIL-POUCH RECEIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed September 23, 1907. Serial No. 3194:,215.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY CLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have 'invented a new and useful Mail- Pouch Receiver, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, in its broad aspects, comprises a novel Construction of a device for arresting and retarding the momentum of a moving object in a limited space, provision being made for depositing or discharging the object so caught or arrested into a suitable chute or receptacle, whereafter said object can only be removed by some person properly authorized.

In the preferred adaptation of my invention, I have shown a novel construction'of mechanism which is particularly adapted for a mail pouch receiver, wherein I provide a receiving device for detaching the mail bag or similar device from a moving train, provision being made for permitting a slight lateral movement of the receiving device, where after the mail bag is permitted to descend into a locked receptacle and means are provided for automatically cushioning the extent of lateral travel of the mail pouch receiver.

My invention further comprises a novel Construction of dash pot or cushioning device provided with a piston or plunger having a rod suitably guided and adapted to enter a seat or chamber in a weight normally located above said rod, provision being made for automatically permitting a gradual and easy descent of the cushioning device to its normal position by means of a novel construction of check valve and its adjuncts, which will be hereinafter more particularly described, provision being made also for regulating the amount of air to be compressed in the cushioning device, whereby the area of the port communicating with the atmosphere is increased or diminished according to requirements.

For the purpose of illustrating tion, I 'have shown in the accomp anying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention my in'ven-` is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a device for retarding the momentum of a moving object in a limited space adapted for use as a mail pouch receiver embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents, on an enlarged scale, a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a section on line w-x, Fig. 2, certain of the parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention. Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the structure seen in Fig. 4'. Fig. 6 represents a plan view of another embodiment of my invention. a plan view of another embodiment of my invention to be hereinafter referred to. Fig. 8 represents a section on line y y, Fig. 7.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings :-1 designates a post, standard or pedestal, upon which the prmcipal operative parts of my novel mechanism are supported, said post having secured to its upper portion, the frame 2, said frame being provided with a lateral extension 3 having the ball bearings or similar devices 4, upon which is mounted the laterally extendng arm 5 which terminates in the cradle 6 which may be of any suitable construction or design, but which preferably appears substantially as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The laterally extending arm 5 is held between the lower extension 3 and the upper extension 7 of the frame 2, which latter is v extended as indicated at 8 so as to form a housing or casing for the cushioning device and its adjuncts to be hereafter referred to.

The laterally extending arm 5 is free to rotate upon the bolt or similar device 9, which is in threaded engagement with the members 3 and 7 and is held in position by means of a nut or other suitable fastening device, said arm 5 being provided With a bushing 10 which can be readily removed according to requirements.

The inner portion 11 of the arm 5. has its under surface 12 preferably constructed on a plane, at all times resting or traveling upon the roller bearing 13, whereby friction is reduced to a' minimum.

i The up er surface of the portion 11 has a plane sur ace 14 which, in practice as seen in Fig. 2, extends for some five or six inches and normally appears as seen in said Fig. 2 supporting the roller bearing 15 which is mounted in the cross-head 16 which is in threaded or other engagement with the plunger or piston 17, as will be clearly understood from Figs. 2 and 3.

The cross-head 16 is provided with the tongues 18 which are guided between the ways or guides 19, whereby it will be apparent that the upward and downward movement of said cross-head 16 and its adjuncts will always be in a rectilinear line with the proper angle to the curved inclined face 20, it being apparent that said curved inclined surface terminates in a continuation of the plane surface 14, as will be understood from Fi 2.

21 designates a piston rod which is Secured to the piston or plunger 17, or an extension thereof, the upper extension of said rod 21 being guided in the head 22 of the cylinder 23, within which the piston 17 reciprocates, said piston being nicely and accurately tted therein, as is evident. In practice, I prefer to make the piston 17 substantially as indicated in Fig. 3, the same being formed of an integral piece of metal or other material and being unprovided with packing rings, although it will, of course, be evident that if desired, the said piston may be packed in any suitable manner without departing from my invention.

24 designates pins or guides projecting oppositely from the cylinder 23 as will be understood from Fig. 2, said pins being located in the slots 25 of the depending lugs 26 of the weight 27 which straddles or is superimposed upon the cylinder 23 as will be understood from Fig. 2, the under portion of the weight 27 being provided with a dash pot 28 which receives the upper extremity of the piston rod 21 as will be understood from Fig. 3.

T he head 22 is provided with a port 29 as will be understood from Fig. 3, which communicates by the passage 30, with the chamber 31 which has the port 32 therein controlled by the plug or other valve 33 whereby communication from the port 32 to the port 34 is controlled or regulated according to requirements.

35 designates a check valve which is pivotally mounted at the point 36 within the chamber 31 and is adapted to normally abut against the seat 37, wherefrom it will be apparent that as the piston 17 rises, any undue compression of air will be permitted to flow through the passages 29 and 30, port 32 and port 34 to the atmosphere, a portion of the shock or the momentum of the upward travel of the piston 17 being absorbed through the medium of the dash pot 28 and weight 27 and its adjuncts, as will be evident to those skilled in this art.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the mail pouch 39 as being supported from a crane or other device 40 of any suitable or conventional construction, it being apparent that when said pouch is caught by the cradle 6 and removed from the crane as will be hereinafter de'- scribed, the same will be deposited in the upper portion 41 of the chute 42 and will fall therein by gravity into any suitable receptacle 43 which may or may not be provided with a looking device 44.

The operat on of the device seen in Fig 1 to 3 is as followsz-The parts now appear as indicated at the right of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2, the piston 17 and its adjuncts being supported upon the plane surface 14 of the cradle supporting arm, the under surface of the latter being supported on the roller bearing 13. As the mail pouch 39 moves into contact with the cradle 6 and is caught thereby and detached from the crane 40, it will be apparent that the cradle arm 5 can freely travel in a lateral direction without resistance or until the roller bearing 15 reaches the lower portion of the curved inclined surface 20, as will be understood from Fig. 2. The contact of said surface 20 with the roller bearing 15 will raise the piston 17 and its adjuncts,-the momentum of said piston being arrested by the compression of air in the cylinder 23 above it and also through the medium of the dash pot 28, the weight 27 and their adjuncts, it being apparent that as explained, a limited quantity of air can leak to the atmosphere through the ports 29, 30, 32 and 34, this amount being regulated by the adjustment of the plug or valve 33 according to requirements.

It will be understood that the supporting arms and adjuncts have now moved in a lateral direction and the piston 17, the weight 27 and their adjuncts are now raised from the positions seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The pouch 39 will now fall by gravity through the chute 42 to the desired point as 43 and the piston 17 weight 27 and their adjuncts can now descend by gravity, the effect of the weight 17 and its adjuncts upon the curved inclined surface 20 being to cause the latter, the cradle arm 5, and the cradle 6 to automatically assume the position seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

lt will be apparent that during the descent of the piston 17, air under normal pressure is permitted to enter the port 38, past the check valve 35 and through the chamber 31 and passages 30 and 29.

It will be apparent that a suitable stop may be provided, the function of which will be toarrest the extent of lateral movement of the arm 5 and the cradle 6, so that the latter will automatically assume its proper or normal position and be in readiness for the next operation.

In the Construction seen in Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown the post or pedestal 1 having Secured thereto, a frame 45 which has pivotally mounted on the extension 46 thereof, the cradle arm 47 which carries the cradle 48, the latter consisting of the angularly deflected arm 49 which serves to catch the mail pouch 39 as is evident.

The upper portion of the arm 47 is provided with the curved inclined surface 50,

-upon which issupported the head 51 which is provided with the anti-friction devices 52 which may be two or more in number and constructed substantially as shown in Fig. 4, said rollers or antifriction rollers 52 being adapted to travel on said cam face 50, as will be evident from Fig. 4. The head 51 has its outer portions 53 deflected so as to engage the guide 54 and thus serve as guides traveling on the rectilinear side walls of the curved inclined surface 50.

55 designates a piston secured to the head 51 and having its upper portion guided in the cylinder 56, said piston having a rod 57 whose upper eXtremity is guided in a suitable head and is adapted to co-act with the dash pot 58 in the weight 59 which has the depending lugs 60 provided with a slot 61 and the guide pins 62 all constructed substantially as seen in the upper portion of Figs. 2 and 3which have already been described. I also provide the up per portion of the cylinder 56 with the plug valve and back valve and the ports and passages seen in the upper portion of Fig. 3, which I deen it unnccessary to describe in detail a second time.

In the embodiment seen in Fig. 6, 62 designates the arm which is pivoted at 63 to the head 64, said arm having at its lower end the cam face 65, on which the roller 15 travels, it being understood that the plunger 17 and its adjuncts are employed in conjunction with the parts seen in Fig. 6 and since the same are similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, I deem it unnecessary to describe the same in detail. The arm 62 is deflected at 66 in order to form a hook which receives the bag from the crane as the car passes by.

In the embodiment seen in Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown another embodiment of my invention which is especially adapted for a single track on which the trains are run in' both directions. In this construction, I einploy a body 67 pivoted at 68, said body having the cam faces 69 and 70 on opposite sides thereof and. anti-friction balls 71 being preferably employed in order to reduce the wear on the Operating parts.

7 2 designates an arm integral with the body 67 and having at its ends, the curved arms 73 and 74. It is to be understood that in conjunction with the Construction seen in Figs. 7 and 8, I employ a dash pot and cushioning mechanism similar to that already shown and described in reference in Figs. 1 to 3.

It will be seen that the mail bag will 'be i caught by the arm 74 if the train is going in one direction, in which case the roller 15 will engage the cam face 69 and cause the plunger 17 and its adjuncts to be raised so that the cushioning of the device will be properly effected. If the car is traveling in the opposite direction, the bag will be caught by the arm 73 and the cam face 70 will co-act with the cushioning mechanism in a manner similar to that already described.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a mail pouch receiver which embodies the features of advantage enuinerated as desirable in the statement of invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described those embodiments thereof which give satisfactory and reliable results in practice, it is to be understood that they are susceptible of modificai tion in various particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1 In a device of the character described, a receiving device movably mounted, means for permitting lateral movement of said device, and pneumatic means for automatically cushioning said lateral movement.

2. In a device of the character described, a receiver, means for permitting lateral movement thereof, a cushioning device for said movement, and a chute into which the mail pouch is discharged from said recever. I

3. In a device of the character described, a movable member having bag receiving means, said member having a cam face thereon, a cushioning device actuated by said cam face, and means for regulating said cushioning device.

4. In a device of the character described, a pivoted member adapted to receive a mail pouch and having a cam face on its upper surface, a roller co-acting therewith, and a cushioning device actuated by said roller.

5. In a device of the character described a base, a member pivoted therein adapted to receive a mail pouch and having a cam face, anti-friction devices for said member, a piston mounted in said base, a roller carried thereby co-acting with said cani face, a rod carried by said piston, and a weight having a dash pot therein with which said rod co-acts.

6. In a device of the character described, a base having ways therein, a piston having guides engagng said ways, there being a piston chamber for said piston, a rod carried by said piston, a weight having a dash pot with which said rod co-acts, there being a free outlet from said piston chamber to the atmosphere, means for regulating said outlet, and a movable pouch reeeiving member adapted to actuate said piston.

7. In a device of the character described, a pivoted member having a plurality of cam faces thereon adapted to receive a pouch, and a cushioning device for said member, said member being adapted to receive a moving object passing in either direction on the same track.

S. In a device of the character described, a base, a member therein, anti-friction devices for said member, the latter being adapted to receive a pouch at one end and having a cam face on its upper surface at the opposite end, said base having vertically extending ways therein, a piston having guides engaging said ways, a dash pot actuated by said piston, there being a piston chamber for the latter, and means for controlling the discharge from said chamber.

9. In a device of the character described, a base, a member pivoted therein adapted to receive a pouch, anti-friction devices for said member, the latter having a cam face, a roller engaging said cam face, a piston by which said roller is carried, a piston chamber having a valve controlled outlet, a stem for said piston, and a Weight with Which said piston stem engages.

10. In a device of the character described, a base, a pouch receiving member pivoted thereto, anti-friction devices for said member, the latter having a cam face thereon, a piston actuated by said cam face, a stem for said piston, a weight having a dash pot into which said stem extends, there being a piston chamber for said piston having` a free outlet to the atmosphere, and means for regulating the size of said 'outlet 11. In a device of the character described, a base, a pouch receiving member movably mounted therein, anti-'friction devices for said member, the latter having a cam face, a piston actuated by said cam face, there being a piston chamber, a valve stem ex tending therethrough, and a Vertically movable weight having a dash pot into which said stern extends.

12. In a device of the character described, a pouch receivingme mbermovablymounted, anti-friction devices for said member, the latter having a cam face thereon, a cushioning device for said member including a piston and piston stern, and means for regulating said cushioning device.

13. In a device of the character described, a base, a pouch receiving member pivoted theren, anti-friction devices for said mernber, the latter having a cam face thereon, a roller engaging said cam face, guides adjustably carried thereby, a roller mounted in said guides and co-acting with said cam face, said base having ways with which said guides engage, said base having a piston chamber, a stem for said piston extending through said chamber, a Weight vertically movable thereon and having an aperture into whichsaid stern extends, said chamber having an outlet therefron, a valve controlling said outlet, there being a restricted passage from said outlet to the atmosphere, and means for regulating the size of said passage.

14. In a device of the character described, a receving device novably mounted, means for permitting lateral movement of said device, means for automatically cushioning said lateral movement, and a check valve for said cushioning means.

C. D. MCVAY. 

